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Main Street District, Boyd Foundation propose phased lighting to highlight trees and improve safety
Summary
The Main Street District, backed by the Boyd Foundation, proposed a phased lighting plan to illuminate downtown tree canopies and add bistro lighting along sidewalks from Gervais to Laurel; organizers said Phase 1 could be completed within about a month with council support.
Matt Kennel, president and CEO of the Main Street District, told the Columbia City Council the district and the Boyd Foundation want to move forward with a phased lighting plan for Main Street designed to showcase tree canopies and historic architecture and to improve nighttime comfort and safety. "I think it's the most popular selfie spot in Columbia," Kennel said of the existing installation and said the foundation has committed funding to extend lighting and evaluate bistro strings along sidewalks.
Kennel described a two‑phase approach: Phase 1 would focus on uplighting large trees and installing bistro lights from Gervais Street to Laurel; Phase 2 could add mid‑block and palmetto tree lighting after the council reviews Phase 1 results. He thanked named partners — including George Bailey and staff members Mary Vaughn Quinn, Robert Anderson, James Lemasters and Brian Neiger — for planning and said staff had been closely involved in the vendor evaluation and installation planning.
Council members expressed general support and asked staff to proceed with the recommended approach and timing. No formal council vote on project authorization was recorded during the presentation; Kennel asked for council agreement to move forward with the described Phase 1 approach and timeline.
